Fluid weighing system



June 7, 1949.

H. A. ADAMS EIAL FLUID WEIGHIKG SYSTEM 2- Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 7, 1944 9 INVEEQ'ORQS H. A. ADAMS ET AL.

FLUID, WEIGHING SYSTEM June 7, 1949.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 7, 1944 g l v e VEORS Patented June 7, 1949 FLUID WEIGHING SYSTEM Harold A. Adams, Bakersfield, and Merrill Eichelberger, Kernville, Calif., assignors to E. A. B. Incorporated, a corporation Application October 7, 1944, Serial No. 557,676

2 Claims. (01. 265-47 It is a general object of our invention to provide a multiple point weighing system possessing a centralized computing gauge.

An important object of our invention is to provide a weighing system by means of which both individual and aggregate weights measured by multiple scale devices may be quickly and accurately determined.

A primary object of our invention is to provide a multiple point computing scale which is adaptable to a mobile installation such as a vehicle or which may be constructed at a permanent location such as a Warehouse yard.

Another purpose of our invention is to provide a means by which the force of the weight measured may be compounded so as to be more accurately and precisely indicated by the gauge.

An important purpose of our invention is the use of a fluid as the means for transmitting the strength or force as measured to the indicating gauge in order to provide an easily controlled and readily obtainable medium.

A further object of our invention is the use of a fluid under load pressure in a pipe system in order to readily locate the control and gauging mechanisms at points more or less remotely separated from the force measuring means.

An additional object of our invention is the provision of a fluid reservoir and pressure pump so that when not in use as a Weighing device the system may be relieved from hydrostatic pressure but may be quickly placed in operating condition when desired.

Another purpose of our invention is to provide a weighing system by means of which either readings from multiple weighing devices attached to a single platform or readings from multiple weighing devices attached to multiple platforms may be read individually or totalized on a single computing gauge.

Additional objects and advantages of our invention will be apparent from the following description considered in conjunction with the accompanying sheets of drawings, or from both as supplements of each other, wherein are set forth certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts.

In the accompanying sheets of drawings, forming a part of these specifications, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the component mechanical elements with the computing gauge attached to the other elements by means of the connecting system, all of which exemplify the principles of our invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of a typical pressure cylinder as used for the weighing platform or the compounding mechanism.

Figure 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of our computing gauge mechanism.

Figure 4 is a front view of the computing gauge.

Figure 5 is a front View of the dial rotating mechanism.

Referring now in detail to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, where, for purposes of illustration are shown preferred embodiments of our invention as adapted to a mobile vehicle installation, numeral 6 indicates .9, single weighing platform with multiple weighing cylinders I2, I3, I4 and I5 attached thereto. Pipes l6, l7, l8 and I9 connect weighing cylinders I3, I2, I4 and I5 respectively to shut-off valves 23, 22, 2|] and 2|, located in control panel I. Attached to the shut-01f valves in panel I is a header 24. In panel 8 is located a suitable reservoir 26 for the collection and storage of the liquid medium which is forced under pressure built up by'pump 28 to the weighing cylinders I3, I2, I4 and I5 and compounding pressure cylinder 32. A shut-off valve 25 is inserted between reservoir 26 and header 24 and a check valve 21 is inserted between reservoir 26 and pump 28. Connected to pump 28 is check valve 29 and shut-off valve 30. From valve 3!] connection is made to header 24.

In panel ID are located the compounding mechanism elements consisting of pressure cylinder 32 which has its piston rod under the influence of the pressure supplied by header 24 bearing against compounding lever 33. Compounding lever 33 operated by the piston rod of cylinder 32 is forced against and operates the piston rod of cylinder 34 thereby building up pressure in cylinder 34. From pressure cylinder 34 a pipe 35 connects to computing gauge I I secured to instrument panel by screws 36.

To weighing platform frame 31 is attached pressure cylinder I2 which is connected to valve 22 by pipe IT. The piston plunger 38 of cylinder I2 is shown resting upon vehicle axle 39 in an operated position.

Within housing 42 of our computing gauge is attached frame 4| on which is mounted the computing mechanism parts. Piping 35 is connected to the pressure inlet mounted on frame 4|. Attached to frame 4| and connecting with the pressure inlet thereon is a pressure responsive tube 46. From a bracket 49 attached to the free end of pressure responsive tube 46 a link 50 connects 3 to internal spur gear mounted on frame 4|. Pinion gear 48 is cooperatively connected with the teeth of gear 5| and operates shaft 41. Shaft 41 rotates in bearing 43 attached to the housing by means of conventional fastening. Bearing against the mounting 43 is a thrust bearing 44. A spiral spring 45 isattachedto bearing 43 and operatesto return shaft. 41 to normal position. Secured to shaft 41 and by pin 51 and rotating therewith is housing 52 for ratchet dog 53 which is movably secured therein.

The ratchet dog 53 is forced against ratchet 6| by means of spring 54 and the resultant movement of ratchet dog 53 is limited by pin 55 cooperating with slot 56. Within the shaft chamber of housing 52 is located a spring 58 in compressed relationship with pressure responsiveltube shaft 41 and ratchet shaft 59. A ratchet frame 68 with ratchet teeth 6| is slideably attached to shaft 59 by means of pin 63 cooperating with slot 64. Pin 63 and -slot64 impart the rotative movement of ratchet68 to shaft 59. Attached to frame 4| is a spring 62 tending to retain ratchet 60 in a normal position.

A brake mounting arm 6'| rotates withand is secured to shaft 59 by pin 66. Between the shoulder of ratchet 60 and brake mounting arm 6'! is mounted a spring 65 in compressed relationship. A brake holder 68 with brake H is mounted in brake mounting arm 61. A spring 18 is secured in compressed relationship between brake mounting arm 61 and brake holder 68 which is limited in travel by stop pin 69. A bearing "I2 surrounding shaft 59 is secured in frame 4|. Dial 13 is secured in housing 42 by anchor ring'gear 83.

An indicating needle '14 rotates with and is secured to shaft-59 by pin 15. Lens ,16 is secured to housing 42 by locking ring 11. A release plunger 18 is secured to shaft 59 foruse in resetting the needle at any desired point. The gauge mechanism assembled in housing '42 is secured to the instrument panel85 by conventional means. The gauge is provided with a needle stop 88 and a dial locking screw 8|. A dial rotating knob 19 cooperates with gear 84 and dial anchor ring gear 83 to set the dial in any desired position.

The operation of our invention as schematically shown in the mechanical diagram Figure 1 consists primarily in measuring the load sustained 3 by platform 6 by reading successively and cumulatively the pressures of each cylinder I2, I 3, l4 and |5.

The following sequence of operations for cylinder I3 is typical .of the method employed forall of the cylindersyshut-ofi" valve 25 is closed and 23 and 30 are opened permitting connection .of weighing cylinder |3 to reservoir 26 through header 24, pipe 3|, valve 30, check valve 29,- pump 28 and check valve 21. The fluid withdrawn by operation of pump 28 from reservoir 26 is transmitted to header 24, primary .compounder cylinder 32 and weighing cylinder l3 until suificient pressure is builtup to support the weight resting on cylinder 3. The, pressure in primary compounder cylinder 32' forces its ,piston plunger against compounder lever 33,. which through its operative action on the piston plunger of.secondary cylinder34 ,builds up pressure in vpipe35 and pressure responsive tube 46 connected thereto or a similar pressure responsive device. The consequent movement of theiree end of the pressure responsive tube is transferredthrou hcom necting link 58 to gear 5|. .Movement of gear 5| is transmitted through the pinion gear 48,

shaft 41 and housing 52 to ratchet dog 53. Ho'- tative movement of ratchet dog 53 is transmitted through ratchet 6|, ratchet frame 68 and ratchet shaft 59 to the needle 14 thus indicating the force exerted in cylinder |3 in suitable units, pounds, ounces or other desired measuring units. The load suported by cylinder |3 having been properly indicated by needle 14, valves 23 and 38 are closed, and 25 opened permitting header 24, pipe 3| and pressure cylinder 32 to return to normal pressure. Through the release of the operating compounder lever 33 the pressure in secondary cylinder 34 and pipe returns to normal and is correspondingly reflected in pressure responsive tube 46 which also returns to normal position.

The counter-rotative movement imparted to ratchet dog 53 through the connecting mechanism when the pressure responsive tube 46 returns to its normal position is not imparted to indicating needle 14 because thefriction braking action generated by brake through the connecting mechanism holds ratchet 6| stationary and consequently the lip of ratchet dog 53 slides over the inclined surfaces of ratchet 6|. The gauging mechanism having returned to itsnormal unoperated position, valve 25 is closed and 22 and 3!! connecting to cylinder l2 are opened. The procedure and sequence of operations in reading the load sustained by cylinder |2are the same as forcylinder |3 except that the movement of the pressure responsive tube transmitted through the connecting mechanism moves the indicating needle I4 forward from itsprevious position for cylinder I3 the proportional distance required for the load sustained by cylinder l2 resulting in a cumulative weight indication that is, the weight registered by cylinders I3 and I2. Bysimflar operations of the respective control valves the individual loads sustained by any number of multiple pressure cylinders may be correctly measured and indicated in a cumulative totalized form by the use of our computing scale system.

It will be understood that while the form of our multiple point computing scale device herein described and illustrated is to be considered as a preferred embodiment of our invention, we do not limit ourselves to the precise construction so described but reserve the right to resort toand substitute various modifications and changes in shape, size and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of our invention or the scope of our claims vas describedand indicated above and in the drawings and the following claims.

Having thus described our invention,..we claim:

1. Weighing apparatus, comprising a plurality of pressure responsive units disposed in spaced relationship, a load carrier supported upon the pressure responsive units, a gauge constructedto respond incrementally to a series ofzfluidpressure values, fluid filled lines for connecting eachpressure responsive unit with said gauge, a control valvein each line whereby the gauge may be selec-- tively energized serially by each of said-pressure responsive units so as to register and totalizethe load carried by the several units.

2. Plural fluid pressure responsive vessels; control valves; a fluid pressure responsive mechanical movement; a single registration dialyasingle step-by-step incremental force indicating pointer; a piping system connecting said plural pressure responsive vessels Withsaid control. valves and said pressure responsivemechanical :movement; a fluid functioningwithin said vpluralgpressure responsive vessels, said control valves, said fluid pressure responsive mechanical movement and said piping system; means connecting said fluid pressure responsive mechanical movement to said single registration dial and said step-bystep incremental force indicating pointer whereby 5 the single registration dial and single indicating pointer may be selectively energized by the operation of said control valves to indicate both the individual and total loads sustained by the plural fluid pressure responsive vessels. 10

HAROLD A. ADAMS. MERRILLEICHEIBERGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following referemces are of record in the 15 file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name Date Bronson Jan. 16, 1894 Bilbrough Aug. 8, 1911 Troll July 20, 1915 Goodale Apr. 24, 1934 Fitch Nov. 12, 1935 Wickstrom May 26, 1936 Sonsalla Sept. 14, 1937 Brasher Mar. 1, 1938 Bohannan July 4, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Dec. 6, 1928 

